Generation Z Climate Change Leadership?

(I  wrote the following to persuade my granddaughters the world wasn't ending in 2030.  I submitted this as a My Take response to the Seattle Times with thoughts others might use it and posted it since they will likely ignore it.)    
Letters: Generation Z Climate Change Leadership

The Seattle Times Dec. 21^st  Opinion page was replete with concerns about the need to reduce CO2 emissions claiming the younger generation who will be most affected should “take the lead”.  Presumably doing so would necessitate some demonstration of knowledge about the subject.

For example are they aware the rate global temperatures have been rising since significant green house gas (GHG), anthropogenic CO2 emissions began has not changed appreciable since the Little Ice  (LIA) in mid 1800s. The record high temperature over the last few years could simply reflect a continuation of that increase.   Especially since the Medieval Warming Period (MWP) in mid 1000’s when Greenland was “green” occurred well before any GHG emissions

Are they aware the rate at which glaciers have been retreating recently has also not changed over the last 170 years.  The lack of apparent GHG affect on glacier retreat is consistent with Vostok ice-core comparisons of CO2 emissions and global temperatures.  It showed after the Eemian interglacial period there was a 14,218-year delay between when CO2 emissions rose and global temperatures increased.  That lag was consistent with temperature lags during earlier glacial recoveries.  Thus it’s “unlikely” recent GHG emission have had a significant effect on glacial retreat. 

Are they aware GHG emissions currently make up about 5% of total CO2 emissions?   That emissions over the last 50 years have only raised CO2 from 0.035% to 0.040% of atmosphere?   That temperature sensitivity to increasing CO2 is predicated on climatologist’s computer simulations.   Their computer results failed to match measured global temperatures with their assumed effects (forcing) from natural sources.  

They assumed that failure was due to the lack of "forcing" from increasing GHG emissions.   The result was closing the computer results with measured data required increasing CO2 “forcing” on temperatures to ten times the effect of the sun’s variations.  It’s “unlikely” the Generation Z climate activists are aware it’s that temperature sensitivity to CO2 that’s driving the need to slash future emissions.

The Generation Z activists apparently aren’t even aware they should be thankful temperatures aren’t that sensitive to CO2.   China CO2 emissions are already twice ours and they intend to continue increasing until 2030.  The recent completion of a natural gas pipeline from Russia shows they have no intent to slow that growth.   India and developing countries continue to add more coal-fired power plants.  Clearly  spending billions attempting to end our countries use of fossil fuels to avert climate change is an exercise in futility.

The Seattle Times editorial board needs to recognize enthusiasm and confidence are no match for “knowledge”.
Bill Hirt
Bellevue